
About this time last year I decided to try a little something different. I started off thinking about a red and white Christmas quilt that I could submit to a magazine.I saw some lovely fabrics from Edyta Sitar from Laundry Basket Quilts that I just had to use. Most of you know me for my bright quilts but at home I like to keep things on the more traditional side. These were perfect. I've had this block bopping around in my head for literally years and I thought they made a great combination so I set out, intrepid applique addict that I am....but a funny thing happened. As I started making my baby Dresdens I found myself relaxing and slowing down. Then I realized that if I was going to make the submission deadline I'd better get cracking but I just couldn't. I was enjoying every second of this quilt and not having to rush through it. I realized that after years of blogging and designing and writing for magazines that I was more than a little tired of hustling. So I gave myself permission to just make this quilt at my natural pace, whatever that was. Needless to say, I didn't make the deadline but oh well. Now that it's all together I've decided to take my new slow process a step further and hand quilt it. The weather just got cold so it's nice to sit under it and stitch away. I think I may continue this slower, gentler way of quilting...it has taught me how much I LOVE THIS and what a joy it is to make something at my own pace.